Thomas Tuchel on the Wembley touchline
Thomas Tuchel insisted he was delighted with his first England camp but knows he has a huge challenge on his hands
Thomas Tuchel could not keep a wry smile from his face when discussing his upcoming schedule. No wonder. His next two competitive matches as England manager are against Andorra, the first of which is over two months away and the second over five months away.
In between those non-contests, he has one other fixture to manage - a friendly against Senegal. In terms of interaction with his players - and interaction is one of his buzzwords - it is not what Tuchel is accustomed to.
So, it is safe to say he has to learn quickly. And while the wins over Albania and Latvia featured the sort of routine qualifying performances that have become England’s staple diet over the past decade and a half, there was plenty for Tuchel to take from his first international camp. Here are five key takeaways …
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Getting the very best out of Bellingham is not going to be easy
Sounds daft, doesn’t it? He is one of England’s truly world class players - arguably the team’s diamond - and regularly comes up with big moments and can run games. But does Tuchel use the Real Madrid man as a six or as a ten? Bellingham’s appetite for adventure in an England jersey is great but there is a nagging worry he can try to do too much.
The attacking midfield combinations certainly did not function smoothly against Latvia. Sooner or later, there is a Ballon d’Or for Bellingham but, for now, Tuchel has the task to make him the ultimate international team player.
Jude Bellingham of England shakes hands with Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, after being substituted for teammate Phil Foden
Thomas Tuchel felt compelled to substitute a frustrated Jude Bellingham during the win over Latvia
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Image:
Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
Convince Kane dropping deep should be the exception not the rule
Considering he now has 71 goals in 105 appearances for his country, suggesting any changes to Kane’s game would seem a bit ridiculous but when he managed the England skipper at Bayern Munich, Tuchel told him his home was in the penalty box.
Kane’s first two goals under Tuchel were relatively close-range finishes and there will surely be an emphasis on making sure the centre-forward is always in those spots. Seventy-one goals in 105 games is great but Tuchel will think he can increase Kane’s outstanding strike-rate.
Harry Kane scored his 71st England goal in his 105th appearance for his country (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
If he decided to stay a while longer, the future is bright
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performances in his first two England games were examples of just how much depth - in terms of young talent - England is producing. While Lewis Skelly was producing another accomplished display on Monday, his 17-year-old Arsenal team-mate Ethan Nwaneri was scoring a beauty against Portugal for England’s under-21 team.
Yes, it is about the here, now and the summer of 2026 for Tuchel but Lewis-Skelly has shown there is plenty of English promise beyond that timeframe.
Myles Lewis-Skelly scored on his England debut and was, arguably, the most consistent player over the first two games of Thomas Tuchel's England tenure (
Image:
Rob Newell/Getty Images)
Plenty of fringe players knocking on the door
It might have taken a fortunate deflection but Eberechi Eze’s goal against Latvia was a testimony to just how dangerous the Crystal Palace man can be. That is what can happen when you attack defenders. When Tuchel’s array of attacking options are being discussed, Eze is not always in the forefront of the conversation but he deserves to be.
Eze is maturing into a high-class operator. With Jack Grealish not selected, Phil Foden struggling and others not making their case too well, Eze can have a big role.
Eberechi Eze scored England's third goal against Latvia and impressed Thomas Tuchel with his cameo (
Image:
Robin Jones/Getty Images) Don't Miss
A changing-of-the-guard is inevitable in central defence
John Stones has been a really wonderful servant to the English cause over the past decade and it would be nice to think he could turn his 83 caps into a century but that is looking increasingly unrealistic. And even though his club fortunes might improve under Ruben Amorim, Harry Maguire is not the future of England central defence.
Tuchel will certainly make no judgement after a game against the ultra-limited Latvia but I hear he likes what he has seen from Ezro Konsa and Marc Guehi in the first camp.
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MORE ONHarry KaneThomas TuchelJude BellinghamEngland football teamJohn Stones